Z vs Brightlayer Home
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Z
This tool simplifies the setup of Z-Wave devices for your smart home. It allows you to easily add, remove, and name devices directly from your phone or tablet. Once configured, you can manage advanced settings through your HomeSeer web interface.
- Include Z-Wave devices
- Exclude Z-Wave devices
- Name Z-Wave devices
- Use with phone or tablet
- Integrates with HomeSeer
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Z-Tool+ is a Z-Wave network installation tool for use with HomeSeer home automation software and controllers. Use Z-Tool+ with your phone or tablet to "include", "exclude" and name Z-Wave devices in your home. After devices are added to your system, you can close Z-Tool+ and switch to your HomeSeer web interface to access more advanced settings and features.
Brightlayer Home
Monitor and control your home's power usage with smart breakers and wiring devices. Gain energy insights, set schedules for cost savings, and receive important notifications. Manage connected devices remotely and enhance security with features like vacation mode.
- Real-time energy insights
- Historical energy usage data
- Customizable energy-saving schedules
- Remote device control
- Out-of-ordinary activity notifications
- Vacation mode for security
- Voice control integration
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The Brightlayer Home app works with Eaton smart breakers and wiring devices. Easily view power usage, control connected devices remotely and make more informed energy decisions. • Energy insights- Better understand energy usage inside the home with real-time and historical insights • Cost savings- Create schedules and scenes to fit your daily routine and to save energy. • Stay up to date- Receive notifications of out of the ordinary activities • Flexible load control- Easily connect Eaton smart home technologies to manage and control energy usage • Added security- Vacation mode turns lights on and off randomly to make seem like someone is home • Voice Control – Pair with Amazon Alexa or Google Home to use voice commands
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Brightlayer Home at 4.7 against Z's 2.3. Brightlayer Home also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 17). Z's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Brightlayer Home holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brightlayer Home has 2.1K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 19% of Z's written reviews are positive against 30% of Brightlayer Home's.
Z ships an update every 4 months, Brightlayer Home every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Z | Brightlayer Home |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.3 (17 ratings) | 4.7 (2.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 18.8% of reviews | 30.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 17 | 2.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 41 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | HomeSeer | Eaton Corporation |
Customer experience
Z
Brightlayer Home
Bugs and requests
Z
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Brightlayer Home
Reported bugs
4 issues- Schedules randomly disappearing
- Devices disconnecting from WiFi
- App login issues and account creation problems
- Incompatibility with certain WiFi routers
Requested features
4 requests- Add advanced scheduling options (e.g. if-then rules)
- Improve app stability and reliability
- Integrate with popular smart home platforms (e.g. Alexa, Google Home)
- Add support for more device types (e.g. EV chargers)
In-app purchases
Z
No in-app purchases
Brightlayer Home
No in-app purchases
